New Mental Health Program Announced

Nova Scotians who receive mental health services will benefit from a new program announced today, Feb. 24, by Health Minister Jane Purves. It includes two intensive community-based treatment teams for children and youth, along with a new 12-bed mental health residential rehabilitation treatment centre for youth between the ages of 12 and 19 years that will open later this year.

"These are major strides forward," said Health Minister Jane Purves. "Over the years, study after study showed we had serious gaps in mental health services, so I'm pleased to say we're now in a position to take action. The beds and two teams will be available by summer at a cost of $2 million in 2003-04, and $3.1 million to run the program the following year."

The treatment teams, one based at the rehabilitation centre in Halifax, the other at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, will work with children and youth where they live. The treatment centre in Halifax will be available to those who require medium to longer term care.

"In the past, we've had to send children to other provinces for this kind of professional treatment," said Ms. Purves. "Now children and youth will not have to be separated from families or endure financial hardships to receive care."

Dr. Linda Courey, mental health director in the Cape Breton District Health Authority added, "This supports one of our district's goals of providing people with services and programs closer to home."

"Residential treatment will address a major gap in how we provide care for youth and their families," said Pat Lee, program director, Child and Adolescent Mental Health, IWK Health Centre. "This is a real benefit for Nova Scotia."

"I'm very excited, both professionally and personally about this announcement," said Dr. Stan Kutcher, head of the department of psychiatry at Dalhousie University. "Not only does this illustrate the province's commitment to improving mental health services to young people, but it gives our youth a second chance to grow into healthy, well-functioning adults."

Last week, Ms. Purves announced a comprehensive set of standards for the delivery of mental health services in Nova Scotia. The province is the first in Canada to adopt formal standards.

The Department of Health sets the policy direction for health care in Nova Scotia. It also provides funding for the IWK Health Centre and the nine district health authorities that deliver services in communities throughout the province.